ISWMQ – Chapter 44

Looking at the script’s ending, coupled with Zhang Nanchuan’s explanation, Rong Guang felt an endless sense of melancholy.

She had known from the very beginning that The Eldest Princess was a tragedy.

The final ending was, in fact, written out clearly in the script’s narration:

The Li Dynasty lasted for a total of two reigns.

The founding emperor was a genius of his time, yet he had a single blind spot. He was proud and conceited, and in the end, it was he himself who brought ruin to the Li Dynasty.

The new emperor was only in his teens when he ascended the throne. No matter how brilliant he was, he couldn’t contend with the powerful old ministers who dominated the court. Beset by troubles both internal and external, he chose to personally lead his troops into battle, ultimately dying on the battlefield.

In the end, the entire Li imperial clan was annihilated. Not a single direct descendant survived.

“Actually, about this ending…” Zhang Nanchuan frowned, exchanged a look with Li Yan beside him, and said thoughtfully, “A purely tragic ending won’t have a very wide audience. And if we go with a straight tragedy, it might not be accepted by the existing viewers, and the subsequent impact won’t be good either. I don’t want to have high ratings all the way through the broadcast, only to have the Douban score plummet to the bottom right at the finale.”

Chu Feiliang looked up and said, “Let’s hear it.”

Zhang Nanchuan thought for a moment and said, “We’ll go with a dual-ending model.”

A dual ending?

Rong Guang was taken aback.

But after thinking about it, she could understand.

As the plot’s direction became clearer, the audience’s expectations for the ending would also become more apparent with each broadcast episode.

And at that time, the staff, who were trapped in the film crew and too close to the project to see it clearly, would be better able to learn from the audience’s feedback what this show was truly about, and what the audience most wanted to see.

“That is indeed feasible,” Rong Guang said cautiously.

Her character’s presence in the story wasn’t actually that extensive.

After Wen Mou was written off, she didn’t have many scenes left.

The latter part of the story was mostly a strategic battle between the Eldest Princess, the old and new emperors, and the court ministers, interspersed with some love and hate. Jiang Wenmou, on the other hand, observed the fate of the entire Li Dynasty from a consistently calm perspective.

So calm that at times, she even appeared indifferent.

She had always believed the words of her late father, the former prime minister Jiang Huai: “Only an outsider can always remain clear-headed.”

And yet, it was this very Jiang Wenmou who, upon learning that Ji Ying was at the center of a storm and, knowing full well it might be a trap, evacuated the commoners from the entire city and led her soldiers to what was certain death, completely lost her composure and ultimately chose to re-enter the fray.

Zhang Nanchuan nodded and turned to ask Zhao Xiuqi, “What does Teacher Zhao think?”

“Ah, it’s up to you.” Zhao Xiuqi waved his hand. “I’ve never cared about screen time. The audience isn’t expecting much from this old bag of bones anyway; the highlights are still on the younger generation. As long as you don’t turn it into a useless role, anything is fine. You’re a recipient of the three major directing awards, after all. With that title, I have to trust you.”

Zhang Nanchuan accepted this praise and acclaim with composure.

He looked at Chu Feiliang, noticed something, and said with a smile, “Speaking of which, it’s quite a coincidence. Look at us here—Teacher Chu has three, you have three, I have three, and Xiao Tan has one. It doesn’t add up to much, but it happens to make a perfect number.”

Chu Feiliang paused, then smiled. “Perfect in every way. That’s a good omen.”

“Then it’s settled.” Zhang Nanchuan rubbed his hands together eagerly. “It might be a bit more work for everyone then, so I’ll need your cooperation.”

Zhao Xiuqi nodded. “That’s normal, I understand. A good show is more important than anything.”

Since the senior veteran had already spoken, the others naturally had nothing more to say.

The routine discussion came to a close.

Rong Guang bounced over to Chu Feiliang with her script, but seeing that she was resting with her eyes closed, she didn’t say anything.

Chu Feiliang had already smelled the familiar scent the moment Rong Guang arrived.

She hadn’t worn any perfume in the last few days, so when she first caught the scent, she didn’t quite register it. It took her a good while to realize what it was.

But the young girl just sat beside her, and from beginning to end, even the sound of her flipping through the script was restrained, as if she wished she could mute it completely.

The few words she occasionally exchanged with the makeup artist were all in a breathy whisper. Chu Feiliang listened intently for a long time but couldn’t make out a single word.

Chu Feiliang opened her eyes, momentarily unable to adjust to the harsh light outside, and let out an irritated ‘tsk’.

Instantly, a pair of soft, warm hands shielded the small space before her eyes.

Chu Feiliang opened her eyes and saw Rong Guang leaning over the chair in a very awkward position to block the sun for her. She paused her movement to get up.

It didn’t take long for her to adjust to the light, and she pressed Rong Guang’s hand down.

The moment their hands touched, Rong Guang said worriedly, “Do your eyes still hurt?”

“I’m fine.” Chu Feiliang was a little dazed as she said this. Then she smiled and said, “Are you always this considerate?”

“Not really…?” Rong Guang thought about it carefully. “Most of the time, I only do things when I see them and think of them.”

“That’s very good too.” Chu Feiliang smiled, squeezed Rong Guang’s hand, and said with another smile, “Did you come over to ask me something?”

“It’s not a big deal,” Rong Guang considered for a moment, then said, “It’s about the script.”

Chu Feiliang was applying eye drops and resting her eyes. Hearing this, she said, “Go on.”

“The director said he wants to shoot a dual ending, right?” Rong Guang propped her chin on her hand and thought for a moment. “What kind of ending do you think it might be?”

“The way the script is now, the ending is a tragedy.” Chu Feiliang opened her eyes, looking much more comfortable. She said, “A complete and utter tragedy, everyone dies… He probably realized this would be a problem, so he wants to change it to a serious drama, or even a happy one.”

Hearing this, Rong Guang broke into a sweat. Thinking about everyone’s fate, she said with a sigh, “That’s really…”

The initial highlight of the plot was on Ji Zheng, played by Zhao Xiuqi.

It was also about the extremely complex royal family bond between Ji Zheng and Ji Ying.

In the middle, the focus shifted to Wen Mou, played by Rong Guang.

She single-handedly turned the emperor’s suspicions about Ji Ying around, buying Ji Ying a lot of time.

And at the very end, everyone… gradually began to be written off.

First the old emperor, then Wen Mou, followed by Jiang Wenmou, the new emperor, and Ji Ying, who all died almost one after another.

Not a single major character with any significance managed to live to the grand finale. It was truly too miserable.

“But as for how to change it specifically,” Chu Feiliang propped her chin on her hand, gazing nonchalantly at Rong Guang, “we’ll have to see how the director and the screenwriting team hash it out. It’ll take some time to revise.”

Rong Guang nodded, still somewhat hung up on the drama’s ending.

She sighed. The words ‘Wen Mou’s final scene’ were a bit jarring to her eyes.

If possible, she also hoped to film more shows with Chu Feiliang that had completely happy endings.

For example, the modern film they shot in her past life was quite good.

The two of them went from innocence to maturity, broke through numerous obstacles, and finally got together successfully. The scene that left the deepest impression on her was the one where they got their marriage certificate.

And the final frame was frozen on their two faces, beaming with happiness.

Even if it was fake, it was still a joy to see.

Seeing Rong Guang’s somewhat dejected expression, Chu Feiliang changed the subject, no longer continuing to talk about the ending. “I smelled it on you. Did you use it today?”

Rong Guang was startled, her attention completely diverted. She nodded and sat up straight, saying, “Yes, I actually used a little last night… I feel like after using it, my mind is especially able to calm down, and I slept very well.”

“Mm, that’s normal.” Chu Feiliang smiled and said, “Some of the flowers used in the raw ingredients are varieties that can calm the mind and soothe the nerves.”

“It’s that amazing?” Rong Guang was stunned. “It helps with sleep too?”

She had slept soundly all night. Although the duration of her sleep wasn’t long, she felt more refreshed than ever before.

She had originally thought these things only existed in legends, but she hadn’t expected them to be real!

“Yes, it’s a special blend.” Chu Feiliang then frowned slightly and said, “When I gave it to you before, I didn’t have anything else on hand. Now I feel this scent doesn’t quite suit you.”

Rong Guang let out a stunned ‘ah,’ feeling a little nervous. Could it be that Chu Feiliang regretted giving it to her and wanted to ask for it back?

She… if she really wanted to ask for it back, then she would just have to be shameless!

Rong Guang felt a little bad about it, but she really had nothing she could exchange with Chu Feiliang.

Chu Feiliang was still thinking about what scent would suit Rong Guang when she abruptly turned her head and saw Rong Guang’s face full of vigilance, like a cat whose dried fish was about to be stolen.

She couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, ruffling Rong Guang’s hair. She said, “What’s given to you is yours. I have never had a rule of taking back things I’ve given away.”

Rong Guang stammered, humming out a few words in a transparent attempt to cover up, “I… I wasn’t thinking that about you…”

The smile never left Chu Feiliang’s face. She thought for a moment, then leaned down and sniffed gently at Rong Guang’s side.

The same scent on both of them mingled, and for a moment, it was impossible to distinguish one from the other.

But it seemed Rong Guang had been wearing this fragrance for so long that she couldn’t even smell more of Chu Feiliang’s own scent.

She sniffed carefully and cautiously, watching as Chu Feiliang lifted her head from her neck and sat back up.

Chu Feiliang didn’t speak.

Rong Guang finally recovered, licked her lips, and said, “What… what were you smelling just now?”

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